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HAIFA, Israel, Aug. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, announced today the results of a pre-clinical trial using the Company's PLacental eXpanded (PLX) cells in tendon injury. Dr. Scott Rodeo and his orthopedic research team at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) studied the effects of PLX cells on rat patellar tendons that had sustained collagenase-induced injuries.

"Cell-based approaches clearly have great potential for the augmentation of connective tissue healing, as well as for tissue regeneration. As an 'off the shelf' cell source, PLX cells could provide an effective option to improve tendon healing," stated Scott Rodeo MD, Principal Investigator for this study and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Rodeo is Co-Chief of the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at Hospital for Special Surgery, New York; Associate Team Physician for the New York Giants Football Team; and Physician for the U.S.A. Olympic Swimming Team.

"Pluristem is extremely pleased that the results of this pre-clinical trial validate our strategy to pursue the use of our PLX cells for tendon injuries and other orthopedic indications. We look forward to the results of our recently fully-dosed,
Phase I/II clinical trial in Germany using our PLX cells in muscle injury," stated Zami Aberman, Chairman and CEO of Pluristem.

PLX-treated tendons demonstrated better early structural properties at 2 and 4 weeks compared to saline-treated controls. This was evident based on statistically significant higher load-to-failure properties at 2 weeks following injection. Additionally, the demonstrated higher mean load-to-failure and stiffness properties were maintained at 4 weeks. These improved biomechanical properties may be related to the findings of a greater proteoglycan and collagen content seen at the tendon-bone interface of PLX-treated samples.

About Pluristem Therapeutics

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.

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